Loving and accepting your body is an important stepping stone in improved self-worth, higher self-esteem, and mental wellbeing. It can be difficult to switch to a positive mindset, which is why we’ve created some helpful tips and tools to get you started.
Celebrate Your Body’s Strength and Ability
Your body is a powerhouse and is capable of doing many amazing things! Remind yourself daily of how wonderful your body is by being thankful for what you have. The ability to dance to your favorite song, sweat out the stress at the gym, and give hugs to those you love are all things worth celebrating.
Speak Positive Affirmations to Yourself
If you struggle with negative thought patterns, it’s not your fault! Our thoughts often come from learned behaviors from childhood and the media. Stress, lack of sleep, and mental health conditions can contribute to this as well. You can combat this by speaking kind and empowering things to yourself. It may seem a little silly at first, but try affirming yourself while you’re getting ready for work every morning! Look in the mirror and really connect with yourself. By repeating affirmations, your brain is creating new neural pathways and begins recognizing these affirmations as positive thoughts and feelings.
Some of our favorite affirmations:
- My body is a gift and I am thankful for it
- I love and accept myself as I am
- I am strong and capable
- My body deserves to be taken care of
Feed Yourself Healthy, Whole Foods… and the Occasional Piece of Cake
Eating healthy really is an important puzzle piece of connecting to your body in a positive way. Healthy eating habits can boost our mood and energy levels. And by “healthy eating habits”, we mean yes, you should absolutely have that piece of cake or that slice of pizza. Life is all about balance and doing what makes you feel good and sometimes, eating a salad just isn’t gonna cut it. Next week’s grocery list should include a variety of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, a source of protein like fish or poultry, and your favorite ice cream flavor!
Exercise (Dance Parties Included)
Physical activity is crucial for loving your body because it can help boost confidence and overall physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re having a hard time getting or staying active, try giving yourself fitness goals. This will help give you a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Boosting your physical activity can also help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression by naturally releasing endorphins. Listening to music has the same effect, so turn that speaker up and dance that anxiety out!
Meditation and Body Scan
Doing a body scan during meditation is one of the best ways to connect with your body. Start in a comfortable position either sitting or lying down. Take a few deep, slow breaths and really tune into the feeling of your chest rising and falling. This will help get you into the rhythm of connecting with your body. Start at the top of your head and slowly work your way all the way down to your toes, giving attention to every part of your body. Take note of any aches, pains, or sensations without judgement. Simply observe them. If you find your mind wandering, center your attention back to your breathing. This will help keep you in a mind-body connection. The more intune you are with your body, the easier it will be to take care of it.
Being more connected to your body can help you care for yourself better and feel comfortable in your own skin. Compassion and mind-body connection can go a long way in helping you love yourself, but sometimes we need a little extra help. If you find yourself overly stressed, anxious, or are having persisting negative or depressive thoughts, it may be time to seek professional help. The Every Rose Psychiatry team is here for all of your medication management needs. You can visit our website for more information or call us at (813) 922-1532.
photo by Annie Spratt